Overcoming Exclusion and Marginalization in Education in Europe

Organized by the Open Society Education Support Program and the Open Society Institute–Brussels, this closing conference of the “Integration and Diversity in Education in Europe” project will be a platform for policy makers, practitioners, youth, and academics to discuss the project's findings and recommendations on inclusion and antidiscrimination measures.

The project used citizen panels—a participatory bottom-up method for engaging communities—to gain new insights and develop fresh approaches to inclusion. Disaffected youth (first- and second-generation migrants; cultural, ethnic or religious minorities; marginalized elements of wider society) and their educational situation were at the core of each local citizen panel. Members of these communities as well as local policy makers will come to Brussels to present and discuss the recommendations.

The initiative is funded by the European Commission and the Open Society Foundations, and is implemented by seven organizations: the Open Society Education Support Program (London), Interkulturelles Zentrum (Vienna), Life e.V. (Berlin), Nadácia Škola dokorán - Wide Open School Foundation ( iar nad Hronom), Romanian Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking Association (Cluj), the Integrated Education Fund (Belfast) and Verikom (Hamburg). The project connects research on inclusion undertaken or supported by the Open Society Foundations (At Home in Europe; the Integration of the European Second Generation; and Education of Migrant, Minority and Marginalized Children in Europe) with local examples of best practice.

Program

09.30 Welcome/Keynote address Hugh McLean (Education Support Program), Emine Bozkurt (MEP) (tbc)
10.00 Presentation and discussion of local findings, Benjamin Bach (Education Support Program)
11.00 International overview, Brigitte Halbmayr (IFK–Vienna)
11.30 Strategies of overcoming exclusion
12.30 Closing remarks and lunch